'A' School

[NavyNuke2B]

Hello Everyone,

      This will be my first posting and i hope i get a good response. I leave for boot camp in April and shortly after, I'm in Charleston for Nuke school.  I'm 22 and I have a wife and a son and they'll be joining me there. The question is how difficult will school be? What should i prepare myself for? I'm expecting nothing less then lots of time at school/studying, and time away from my family. What can i better prepare my self for...Study some math or just wait and let it come as it may? This is a lot to respond to and I'm thankful for you taking the time to answer my questions to the best of your knowledge.

[JustinHEMI05]

Thank you for your service, and good luck! It is going to be a tough, but worth it, journey for sure.

Justin

[Kev3399]

Thank you for enlisting.

I wouldn't study any certain topics......They will teach you everything you need to know, their way.

I would get a book on how to study. How to focus. Work on some memory skills. I didn't have any of these when I joined. I pissed away my high school years on various things that proved useless to the rest of my life.

I wish I had better study habits and focus skills looking back. I eventually gained these, but it was tough going at first.

[JustinHEMI05]

Oh... go out and buy an "I BELIEVE" button that you can push frequently. 

But seriously, like Kev said, no need to study now. You will have to do it their way... always. Even if you have a physics degree. Its best you just relax and spend as much time with your family as you can NOW before you get bogged down with school. Hopefully though, at 22 (about when I joined), you have some life experience/education and have a relatively easy time in the pipeline. Avoid, at all costs, your underage brethren... they will get you in trouble.

Justin

[Kev3399]

Avoid, at all costs, your underage brethren... they will get you in trouble.

Justin

An true story example to send this point home.(This wasn't me, just my students)

-Get off of Day 7 of midshift at 0830 in the morning
-Gather at an apartment and get trashed.(Excellent idea)
-Drive to Taco Bell as soon as they open while intoxicated.(Even better)
-Act like drunks while there and get the police called.
-Police follow and pull over/arrest.(DUI)
-Laugh/mouth off at the cop while being arrested.(Additional charges)

I'll never forget the phone call from the command on this one. It still boggles my mind to this day. On top of it all, these were darn good students.

Moral.....Please stay out of trouble. Be a good baby nuke. 

[ddklbl]

-Police follow and pull over/arrest.(DUI)

Shipmate!  They never were driving, remember?  That was how they rationalized it.  I thought it went like this:

"We were just drunk in the car."
So, did you intend to sleep it off in the parking lot also?
"Well, no.  Not really."
So, the cop arresting you is BS because of what again?
"We were just in the parking lot..."
Underage, drunk, harassing the help.
" "


Regardless, my contribution to the topic at hand:

Relax.  Enjoy the time with the family.  You will spend plenty of time away from them.  As far as academics...  Yes, the Navy has an uncommon way of teaching common things.  You have to understand that the assumption going in is that none of the students have any concept of the material at hand.  You start from there. 

Por ejemplo, Math will be basic review of Algebra.  i.e. find the log() key on you calculator.  From there, you will do basic Trig.  i.e. find the cos() key on your calculator.  Your calculus experience is boiled down to a 3x5 card (which has many other convenient nuclear uses ) tracking the leading edge of a curve to determine the rate of change of the curve.  That 3X5 card is equivalent to 3 credit hours as recommended by the American Council of Education. 

Boot Camp was a while ago, but If I remember correctly, it would behoove you to memorize those silly things your recruiter told you to, but you blew him off.  General Orders, Chain of Command (JCS Chairman is ADM Mullen and CENTCOM is ADM Fallon), etc... 

And one Boot Camp recommendation, when your RDC Senior Chief walks in, look at his shoes.  If they aren't black, stand tall, look him in the eyes and say: "I thought only ******* wore brown."

Have fun with the family during the Holidays.

[Kev3399]

Shipmate!  They never were driving, remember?  That was how they rationalized it.  I thought it went like this:

"We were just drunk in the car."
So, did you intend to sleep it off in the parking lot also?
"Well, no.  Not really."
So, the cop arresting you is BS because of what again?
"We were just in the parking lot..."
Underage, drunk, harassing the help.
" "


Regardless, my contribution to the topic at hand:

Relax.  Enjoy the time with the family.  You will spend plenty of time away from them.  As far as academics...  Yes, the Navy has an uncommon way of teaching common things.  You have to understand that the assumption going in is that none of the students have any concept of the material at hand.  You start from there. 

Por ejemplo, Math will be basic review of Algebra.  i.e. find the log() key on you calculator.  From there, you will do basic Trig.  i.e. find the cos() key on your calculator.  Your calculus experience is boiled down to a 3x5 card (which has many other convenient nuclear uses ) tracking the leading edge of a curve to determine the rate of change of the curve.  That 3X5 card is equivalent to 3 credit hours as recommended by the American Council of Education. 

Boot Camp was a while ago, but If I remember correctly, it would behoove you to memorize those silly things your recruiter told you to, but you blew him off.  General Orders, Chain of Command (JCS Chairman is ADM Mullen and CENTCOM is ADM Fallon), etc... 

And one Boot Camp recommendation, when your RDC Senior Chief walks in, look at his shoes.  If they aren't black, stand tall, look him in the eyes and say: "I thought only ******* wore brown."

Have fun with the family during the Holidays.

3X5 Cards LOL!!!! Well no.....its not quite right.....lets just move it over a little and call it good. So whats it now.....the same as before. Excellent!!!!

[deltarho]

Something I heard at conventional ET "A" school that I never heard while at NFAS as an instructor/Section Advisor--"PFM"!  Many circuits and properties of components--evidently--operate by this law.

[NavyNuke2B]

I would like to thank you for your future service to this great country. 

I would also like to offer one piece of advice before you get to school.   NukeWorker.com is a great reference for your question.  I'm not making light of your situation but we have archived 1000's of posts on this very subject.  You will find the answer to your questions already provided here at NukeWorker.com.  They will not be any trouble for you to find if you put in a little effort.  A lot less than is required of you at NNPS.

First, Look around the Navy Nuke section. 
Second, Do a search of that forum. 
Third, Then come back with a more specific question.

We've answered most of those questions elsewhere in the Navy section.

Good Luck and my best wishes.

Jason


PM me if you have further difficulties.

Thanks I looked for them yet couldn't find them, this site is not user friendly, well, I think so. Your steps should simplify the issue.

[DDMurray]

Hello Everyone,

      This will be my first posting and i hope i get a good response. I leave for boot camp in April and shortly after, I'm in Charleston for Nuke school.  I'm 22 and I have a wife and a son and they'll be joining me there. The question is how difficult will school be? What should i prepare myself for? I'm expecting nothing less then lots of time at school/studying, and time away from my family. What can i better prepare my self for...Study some math or just wait and let it come as it may? This is a lot to respond to and I'm thankful for you taking the time to answer my questions to the best of your knowledge.

The question is how difficult will school be?
Tough question to answer.  It depends on many factors.  It takes a commitment to adjust to the many changes you will see over the next few months.  If you are strong in math and science you will find it less difficult, at least in the beginning.

What should i prepare myself for?
Be ready for a pace that accelerates as you get farther into the program.

What can i better prepare my self for...Study some math or just wait and let it come as it may?
If you have time practice working math reading type problems where you have to apply calculations based on situations.  Knowledge is power in the nuke program.  When you get in school, establish a routine that minimizes wasted time while in Rickover center.

Two other recommendations:
1.  Establish a physical fitness plan now.  Give yourself at least 45 minutes a day to get in a strenuous workout.  In boot camp, this won't be a problem.  After boot camp, it becomes tougher.  There may be some programs out there, but establish a mind set that you must have a workout as part of your day-to-day routine while you're in the navy.
2. Make sure you maintain open communications with your family.  After boot camp, establish a routine that lets your wife have a life too.  Make a date night so you can spend some time with your wife.  Remember you can provide a better standard of living for your family the faster you advance; but it does no good if you treat them as a distraction vice keeping them on a pedestal.  This is easy to say, but hard to do especially after long days studying or day after duty when you get to your first command. 

Good Luck!

[Fermi2]

Thanks I looked for them yet couldn't find them, this site is not user friendly, well, I think so. Your steps should simplify the issue.

You must not want to be a nuke all that badly then. Life isn't user friendly, and nuclear power is less user friendly than life.

Mike

[Roll Tide]

Life isn't user friendly, and nuclear power is less user friendly than life.

I predict much plagiarism of this line (starting with me)!

[Cycoticpenguin]

Hello Everyone,

      This will be my first posting and i hope i get a good response. I leave for boot camp in April and shortly after, I'm in Charleston for Nuke school.  I'm 22 and I have a wife and a son and they'll be joining me there. The question is how difficult will school be? What should i prepare myself for? I'm expecting nothing less then lots of time at school/studying, and time away from my family. What can i better prepare my self for...Study some math or just wait and let it come as it may? This is a lot to respond to and I'm thankful for you taking the time to answer my questions to the best of your knowledge.

As the most recently qualified, similar age, and married individual, I can give the closest answers

"How difficult" - this depends on you. Some people breeze through, some struggle and fail, some try their hardest and barely pass. If you are willing to put the time and effort in, you will do just fine. Dont get caught up in social BS. Your job is to qualify

"preparation" - they will teach you everything you need to know. I hadnt had a math class for 4-5 years before the nuke program, but I wound up getting some of the highest grades in math. If you can do what you are told, math is easy . The material is NOT hard at all. Its the pace of the program that chokes you.

As for spending time with your wife, you will have plenty of time. A school and Power school are the "easiest" times to be with your wife (unless you are a weaker student, then power school is miserable ). On section at prototype kinda sucks though. Just remember, its relatively a short time span, and will be over before you know it.

good luck, enjoy your time as the highest rank you can be! (civilian!)

[kathy14]

I'm not very computer savy but looking for help in being a 'supportive mom' of a soon-to-be basic training and A-school son.  I am so proud he has enlisted to serve our great nation.  The information shared by many here is encouraging, but I don't know any of the  terms  like NNPS, PM, Sea-Dad, etc. Where do I find that kind of info? Kathy

[PWHoppe]

I'm not very computer savy but looking for help in being a 'supportive mom' of a soon-to-be basic training and A-school son.  I am so proud he has enlisted to serve our great nation.  The information shared by many here is encouraging, but I don't know any of the  terms  like NNPS, PM, Sea-Dad, etc. Where do I find that kind of info? Kathy

Kathy,

Welcome to NukeWorker. I see that honeycomb answered your immediate and specific questions so I won't repeat. There is a lot of information if you go to the forum and look under career path Navy and the child board: Navy Getting In. I believe most of your answers will be in those topics. After looking around and you have more specific questions post them and I am sure there are folks here who can answer them. Thank your son for his service to our coiuntry and thanks to you for being a supportive Mom

[mlslstephens]

I'm not very computer savy but looking for help in being a 'supportive mom' of a soon-to-be basic training and A-school son.  I am so proud he has enlisted to serve our great nation.  The information shared by many here is encouraging, but I don't know any of the  terms  like NNPS, PM, Sea-Dad, etc. Where do I find that kind of info? Kathy

Kathy,
As people are saying; you have come to the right place.  There is an enormous amount of information here and so many of us have come through the very halls that your son will soon traverse.  We are all more than willing to answer your questions.  Just as PWHoppe mentioned, you can put your questions on the forum and someone will answer them.

Also, the PM function is a great tool if you have a question that you would rather not air out on a public forum.  That being said, you get the best response when all of us "nukes" get to chime in with our own and very diverse opinions.

Tell your son thanks for volunteering and I wish him well as he works his way through the pipeline.

One last note, you will see as you search that there are several other concerned Moms (I think that is redundant) who have posted similar questions and whose children are going through the school right now.  Navytwinmom has two guys in prototype as we speak...uhmm, I mean type. 

[Fermi2]

I'm not very computer savy but looking for help in being a 'supportive mom' of a soon-to-be basic training and A-school son.  I am so proud he has enlisted to serve our great nation.  The information shared by many here is encouraging, but I don't know any of the  terms  like NNPS, PM, Sea-Dad, etc. Where do I find that kind of info? Kathy

Moms get an exception for ever having to use the search function. Feel free to ask or PM!!!

Mike

[Kev3399]

Moms get an exception for ever having to use the search function. Feel free to ask or PM!!!

Mike

Whoah!!!!! I didn't know this exception/waiver existed? Is Broadzilla is getting soft on here? I said it first.

[Kev3399]

Actually if you go back and SEARCH this isn't the first time BZ has done this...and NO you aren't the first person to make mention of it.

Sorry. 

Jason

So what did you all do before the internet and search functions? I'm sure you had to hang your hat on something.

This internet tool has been around for well over a decade now. You're not spreading any new information......